A new pilgrimage, “Pilgrims of Hope Way,” was inaugurated on 14 September in Jerusalem, marking the 60th anniversary of Maison Abraham (Abraham House), a pilgrim guest house founded by Secours Catholique-Caritas France. Located in the heart of the Muslim neighbourhood of Ras al-Amud in East Jerusalem, Abraham House has been a symbol of interfaith dialogue and hospitality since 1964.
According to Bernard Thibaud, director of Abraham House, the mission entrusted by Pope Paul VI in 1964 is to host pilgrims of all religions, especially the poorest, and to promote encounters with local inhabitants. Thibaud noted that while the house primarily receives Christian visitors, around 10-15% of visitors are Muslims, particularly during Ramadan, and a few groups of Jewish people are comfortable visiting an Arab neighbourhood.
Pope Francis sent a message of encouragement on the occasion of the 60th anniversary, expressing his desire for Abraham House to remain a place of welcome, encounter, and dialogue for all children of Abraham. He also hoped that the Pilgrims of Hope Way would inspire feelings of peace in the region.
Abraham House has been located in the Jerusalem area under Israeli occupation since 1967, a significant change from its original location under Jordanian rule. Despite this, the house remains committed to its mission of hospitality and interfaith dialogue, now amplified by the Pilgrims of Hope Way.